Categories: Ktzat Ivrit

In Hebrew: 'Can't Wait'

By Ami Steinberger

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January 25, 2013, 1 PM ET

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לְחַכּוֹת בְּקֹצֶר רוּחַ

The literal translation of I can't wait! works as well:

אֲנִי לֹא יָכוֹל לְחַכּוֹת - when spoken by a male

אֲנִי לֹא יְכוֹלָה לְחַכּוֹת - when spoken by a female

But the more common, more descriptive expression is that which translates the English expression, to wait with bated (shortness of) breath - לְחַכּוֹת בְּקֹצֶר רוּחַ

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לְחַכּוֹת is an active-intensive פִּעֵל verb meaning to wait.

קֹצֶר means shortness.

רוּחַ means literally, wind.

For example:

יִשְׂרָאֵלִים רַבִּים מְחַכִּים כָּעֵת בְּקֹצֶר רוּחַ לְתוֹצְאוֹת הַבְּחִירוֹת. Lots of Israelis can't wait right now for the election results (literally, Lots of Israelis are now waiting with bated breath for the election results).

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